Showing results by author "Leah Johnson" in All Categories

Liz Lighty has always believed she’s too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small Midwestern town. But it’s okay - Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor. But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz’s plans come crashing down...until she’s reminded of her school’s scholarship for prom king and queen.

Toni is grieving the loss of her roadie father and needing to figure out where her life will go from here - and she's desperate to get back to loving music. Olivia is a hopeless romantic whose heart has just taken a beating (again) and is beginning to feel like she'll always be a square peg in a round hole - but the Farmland Music and Arts Festival is a chance to find a place where she fits.

Edited by National Book Award finalist Ibi Zoboi, Black Enough is an essential collection of captivating stories about what it’s like to be young and black. “A powerful collection that opens the reader’s eyes to the breadth and diversity of contemporary experience in America” June...

“Deftly narrated by Khaya Fraites and Eric Lockley, this cozy, well-paced romp delivers small-town pride, family love, and adorable teenage queer romance.” — Booklist "A snow-kissed, warmhearted ode to new beginnings, second chances, and the real, enduring magic of love and community."...

Ellie Engle doesn’t stand out. Not at home, where she’s alone with her pet fish since her dad moved away and her mum has to work around the clock. Not at the bakery, where she helps out old Mr Walker on the weekends. And definitely not at school, where her best friend, Abby – the coolest, boldest, most talented girl in the world – drags Ellie along on her never-ending quest to 'make her mark'. To someone else, life in the shadows might seem boring or lonely, but not to Ellie. As long as she has Abby by her side and a comic book in her hand, she’s quite content.

Sometimes we shrink ourselves to make others feel comfortable. We have conversations about breaking that cycle to become more self-aware and confident in who we are.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/take-up-space-podcast--5182502/support.

Boyds are born to stand out – Bree's dad is celebrated professor; her mum is a state senator; her brother is on his way to professional basketball stardom and her sister is a prima ballerina. But where does Bree fit in? Sure, she just won the Regional Spelling Bee and is well on her way to Nationals, but lately something doesn't feel quite right. With her new friends Ellie, Abby and Sam, Bree is realising that there's more to life than being the best. Not to mention this tiny, pesky thing she keeps trying to forget about – her newfound powers!